Cloud-based system and method for sharing media among closely located devices

Abstract

A method for sharing data between a local device and a target device includes scanning for a fallback peer-to-peer (P2P) network by the local device. When the scanning finds the fallback P2P network, the local device joins the P2P network in order to connect to a target device. The local device can also create a fallback P2P network when the scanning does not find said fallback P2P network. The local device searches for a target device, using a Bluetooth generic attribute (GATT) personal device profile (PDP) protocol; and is capable of sharing a data file between the local and target devices upon receiving an indication that the target device had connected to said fallback P2P network. In response to a triggering event, the local and target devices connect to the P2P network to thereby support file sharing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of sharing data files among devices, comprising:
 scanning for a fallback peer-to-peer (P2P) network by a first device;   joining said fallback P2P network when said scanning finds said fallback P2P network;   creating said fallback P2P network when said scanning does not find said fallback P2P network;   searching for a second device, with the first device, using a Bluetooth generic attribute (GATT) personal device profile (PDP) protocol;   and   sharing a data file between said first and second devices upon receiving an indication that said second device had connected to said fallback P2P network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein searching comprises searching using at least one of the following protocols: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE); Bluetooth basic rate (BR); and Bluetooth enhanced data rate (EDR). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second devices are associated with a single user account. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein first and second devices are cloud-based devices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the first device verifying whether said second device is connected to said fallback P2P network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein verifying comprises verifying user logged on information in said cloud using a User Identity Service using at least one of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Bluetooth basic rate (BR), and Bluetooth enhanced data rate (EDR). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein searching for a second device with the first device comprises determining whether said second device is on a BLE whitelist residing on said first device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising adding said second device to said whitelist if said second device is not on said whitelist. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising synchronizing said BLE whitelist stored on said first device with a web-based white list stored on a central server cloud computer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein verifying comprises determining whether said second device is in a sleep mode. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 when said second device is not asleep, connecting said first and second devices via said fallback P2P network; and   when said second device is asleep, waking up said second device using a Host Status Service prior to connecting said first and second devices via said fallback P2P network.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein verifying comprises determining whether said second device is asleep using a Host Status Service. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating, by said first device to said second device, network credentials of said fallback P2P network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein communicating comprises communicating network credentials using a Wi-Fi Network Service. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said P2P network credentials include at least one of:
 a network name;   a network SSID;   a network type;   a network password; and   a network security protocol.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fallback P2P network is compliant with at least one of Bluetooth, BLE, Wi-Fi, and IEEE 802.11. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sharing comprises sharing a media file. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sharing comprises streaming media between the first device and the second device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said media file comprises at least one of a text, graphics, and video format. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein scanning comprises scanning in response to a triggering event, said triggering event comprising at least one of:
 network handoff rate exceeding a predetermined threshold value;   out of band proximity detection;   movement of one of said first and second devices into a predetermined geographic region;   termination of an Internet connection of at least one of said first and second devices; and   the distance between said first and said second devices becomes less than a predetermined value.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to connecting said second device to said fallback P2P network, accessing media located on said second device from said first device via a web-based central server; and   after connecting said second device to said fallback P2P network, continuing to access media located on said second device via said fallback P2P network.   
     
     
         22 . A method of sharing media files among associated electronic devices using a fallback peer-to-peer (P2P) network, the method comprising:
 scanning for a fallback P2P network by a first device;   when said fallback P2P network is found, joining said P2P network and searching for a second device;   when said second device is found, connecting said first device to said second device via said fallback P2P network;   when said second device is not found, searching for a second device, with the first device, using a Bluetooth generic attribute (GATT) personal device profile (PDP) protocol; and   connecting said first device to said second device, where said second device is connected to said fallback P2P network.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein scanning comprises scanning in response to a triggering event, said triggering event comprising at least one of:
 network handoff rate exceeding a predetermined threshold value;   out of band proximity detection;   movement of one of said first and second devices into a predetermined geographic region;   termination of an Internet connection of at least one of said first and second devices; and   the distance between said first and said second devices becomes less than a predetermined value.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein sharing comprises streaming media between said first and said second devices. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 prior to connecting said first and second devices via said fallback P2P network, accessing media located on said second device from said first device via a web-based central server; and   after connecting said first and second devices via said fallback P2P network, continuing to access media located on said second device via said fallback P2P network.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein continuing comprises streaming media between said first and said second devices. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for streaming media stored on a closely proximate device, comprising:
 a memory module configured to store a device-based whitelist of associated devices including said closely proximate device;   an Internet connection module configured to connect to a web-based central server and to synchronize said device-based whitelist with a cloud-based whitelist maintained on said central server; and   a searching module configured to search for said closely proximate device using a Bluetooth generic attribute (GATT) personal device profile (PDP) protocol; and   a P2P network connection module configured to connect to said closely proximate device through a fallback P2P network when said closely proximate device is found by said searching module.   
     
     
         28 . A method for managing electronic devices belonging to the same user account, comprising:
 storing a first whitelist on a first device;   storing a second whitelist on a web-based central server;   searching, by said first device, for target devices in close proximity to said first device;   connecting said first device to said central server; and   synchronizing said first and second whitelists.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein searching comprises searching using a User Identity Service. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising connecting said first device to a P2P network prior to searching. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 storing a third whitelist on a third device; and   synchronizing said first, second, and third whitelists when said searching discovers said third device.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said first and second whitelists include: i) information relating to the identity of devices stored on said whitelists; and ii) information relating to P2P network connectivity for devices stored on said whitelists.